Protective pad



S. ASH

PROTECTIVE PAD July 25, 1939.

Filed June 50, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 'INVENTOR 5. A SH ATTORNEY July 25, 1939.

s. ASH 2,167,195

PROTECTIVE PAD Filed June so, 1938 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 BY SM MEL! ATTORNEY Patented July 25, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFHCE 1 Claim.

This invention relates to protective pads for tables or the like and has among its objects an improved sectional protective pad with novel easily engageable and disengageable interlocking means for interlocking the individual pad sections into a unitary structure, when it is placed on the table or on the object which is to be protected.

The foregoing and other objects of the invention will be best understood from'the following exemplifications thereof illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which Fig. lis a top view of a sectional table pad exemplifying the invention, a part of the interlocking arrangement being exposed;

Fig. 2 is a cross-section along line 2--2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a cross-section along line 3-3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a top view of the interlocking elements;

Fig. 5 is a perspective View of the interlocking portions of adjacent table pad sections;

Fig. 6 is a top View of an interlocking arrangement illustrating another exemplification of the invention;

Fig. 7 is a cross-sectional view along line 1-1 of Fig. 6-;

Fig. 8 is a cross-sectionalview along line 88 of Fig. 6; and

Figs. 9 and 10 are top views of the interlocking elements of the pad sections of Fig. 6.

In Figs. 1 to 3 is illustrated a sectional table pad exemplifying the invention. It comprises two pad sections II, l2 having overlapping flanges l3, [4 respectively. For convenience in storing, the individual pad sections II and [2 are composed of a plurality of foldable subsections folded along lines Hi.

The individual pad sections ll, l2 are shown made of outer layers I 6 composed of several plies of cardboard and an intermediate layer ll of heat-insulating material, such as an asbestos or felt composition. The several layers of each section are shown united by a plurality of staples H! or by cementing into a firm pad section. The flanges l3, M of the two pad sections ll, l2 are formed of extensions of the cardboard plies forming an outer layer of the sections ll, I2, respectively. As shown in Fig. 3, the individual subsections of each pad section are connected by hinges formed of a fiat layer IQ of gummed linen cemented to the outer surface portions of adjacent subsections, and a folded layer 20 of gummed linen cemented to the opposite abutting edges and outer surface portions of the adjacent subsections.

A covering of felt 2| and a covering of waterproof material 22 such as oil cloth are cemented to the unitary layer structure of the laminated pads, the edges of the coverings being tucked under the edges of the adjacent layers in the way shown in Figs. 2 and 4.

In order to interlock the adjacent pad sections l l, l2 when they are placed on the table or a similar object, the overlapping flange portions 13 and I4 of the adjacent table pad sections are provided with sets of interlocking plates 26, 21 of a solid hard material, much harder than ordinary cardboard. The interlocking plates 26, 21 are clamped between the outer layers It of the adjacent pad sections and have interlocking projections 28 and 29 which extend over the flanges l3 and M of the adjacent sections ll, l2. E ach plate 26, 21 is firmly anchored between the outer; layers It of the table section, for instance, by a plurality of staples l8 so as to secure a firm anchorage of the interlocking plates in the table section so that. they also function as reinforcements for the edge portions of the pad sections in which they are mounted. The exposed interlocking projection 28 of the interlocking plate 26 has the shape of a T with an elongated interlocking member fitting into a somewhat longer groove 3| provided in the exposed interlocking projection 29 of theinterlocking plate 21, the border portions of the groove 3| forming interlocking arms 32 extending into the grooves 33 formed between the elongated interlocking member 28 and its narrower junction with the main body of the plate 26 which is embedded and. clamped between the layers of the pad section I I,

As shown in Fig. 1, at least two sets of interlocking plates 26, 2'1 are provided on the adjacent flanges 13, I4 of adjacent pad sections H, l2. Easy engagement and disengagement of the interlocking projections 28 and 29 is made possible by making the groove 3i of the interlocking plate 21 longer than theelongated interlocking member 28 of the interlocking plate 26 and by making the grooves 33 in the interlocking plate 26 longer than the interlocking arms 32 of the interlocking plate 21.

Where longer tables are to be covered with 5 13, I4 for interlockingone side with the interlocking projections 28 and on the other side with the interlocking projections 29 of the two adjoining table sections l! and I2.

The interlocking arrangement of the table pad sections described above acts not only as reinforcement of the table pads at their edges where they are interlocked with the adjacent table sections but also assures easy interlocking engagement and disengagement between the adjacent table sections. If a table is to be covered with the table pad sections i i and 12,7table pad section I I is first placed on the table and thereupon table pad section 12 is placed thereover with the edge l4 overlapping the edge [3 and the two sections are moved longitudinally along their flanges until the elongated interlocking projections 1. .28 drop into the grooves 3! of the cooperating ,interlocking element 26. Since the grooves 3! are longer than the elongated interlocking. projections 28, no great accuracy is required in mounting the several sets of interlocking plates in the pad sec tion and quick interlocking engagement between adjacent table pad sections is made possible.

In the practical construction of the table pads of the type shown in Fig. 1, interlocking plates 26, 21 made of hard fibre impregnated with a drying oil or with some synthetic resin were found to give a very positive and easily engageable and disengageable table pad interlocking arrangement. However, other materials may be used for such interlocking plates, such as, molded synthetic resins or metal, the embedded portions of such interlocking plates being cemented or riveted between the outer layers 16 of the pad section.

In Figs. 6-10 is shown another interlocking arrangement for sectional protective pads of the invention. As in the pad arrangement shown in Fig. 1, adjacent pad sections 4!, .42 have their overlapping flanges 43, 44 provided with interlocking plates 45, 46 clamped between the outer layers 48 of the two pad sections 4 l 42. As shown in Figs. 7 to 10, the exposed solid, portion of the interlocking plate 45 overlying the flange 43 of the pad section 4! has a raised elongated locking projection 5! fitting in a somewhat longer groove 52 provided in the exposed portion of thesolid interlocking plate 46 overlying the flange 44 of the adjacent table section 42. Such arrangement of the interlocking plates likewise assures reinforcement of the edge portions of the two pad sections which are to be interlocked while securgroove 52 is longer than the interlocking projection 5 l interlocking engagement is assured without requiring great accuracy in making the pads.

As shown in Figs. 7 and 8, the projecting lock member 5! extending from the lock plate 45 may be joined to the lock plate as by riveting. However, the individual lock plates may be made of molded synthetic resin material and suitably cemented or anchored as by riveting between the outer layers 48 of the adjacent table pads.

The exemplifioations described above will suggest many other modifications thereof. It is ,accordingly'desired that the appended claim be given an interpretation commensurate with the scope of the invention.

I claim:

In a protective pad for tables or the like, a plurality of pad sections having overlapping flanges,

each pad section comprising a plurality of. plies .united to form a firm-protective body and aflange alongv an edge of -said body formed of fewer; plies} than said body,,interlocking means atzthe overlapping flanges of adjacent pad sections comprising a plate of a substance materially harder than the substance of saidplies clamped between the plies of the body portion of each pad section forr fili interlocking adjacent pad sections, each ofsaid plates having an interlocking member projecting vover the flange of thesection, the interlocking member of a flange of one section forming an elongated interlocking groove extending. substan-. tially parallel to the edge of said section, the

cooperating interlocking member 4 of the adjacent section forming aninterlockingprojection fitting into. said interlockinggroove and lockedin said groove against lateral and longitudinal motiorn.

said plates and the associated interlockingmem- =bers lying between said flanges in substantially the same plane.

SOLOMON ASH. 

